Key-operated mechanism for actuating, recording, or indicating apparatus or the like.



F. L. H. SIMS.

KEY OPERATED MECHANISM FOR AGTUATING, RECORDING, 0R INDIOA'IING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1911.

Patented J an. 7, 1913.

2 SHFETSSHBET 1.

.INVENTOR.

WITNESSES A TTORNE Y.

P. L. H. SIMS.

KEY OPERATED MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING, RECORDING, OR INDIGATING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 2a, 1911.

1,049,929; I Patented Jan. 7,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a I 3 m 4- g 1 R 6, U U [1 [[1 U [l I] [1 U [1 1111M v1 vwvvv/wv (y WE WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

(ff M. ATTORNEY.

FREDERICK L. H. SIMS, 0F TORONTQ, ONTARIO, CANADA.

KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING, RECORDING, OR INDICATING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE.

1&49929.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Jan. "2,1913.

Application filed October 28, 1911. Serial No. 657,208.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERICK L. H. SIMS, of 155 Dunn avenue, in the city of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Operated Mechanism for Actuating,Reco-rding, or Indicating Apparatus and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is particularly applicable to adding machines, cash registers and the like, and relates to machines of the type using five keys.

In such apparatus my object is to devise an arrangement in which the keys are 010- erable by a clutching'movement of the fingers instead of by a rectilinear movement or a movement curving away from the operator, so that the fingers of the hand need never be taken off the keys, leaving the eye free to follow a column of figures.

A further object is to devise eliective and reliable mechanism of extreme simplicity for imparting to an indicating or recording device movements equal to the whole or any predetermined number. of ninths of the whole movement possible, such movements being produced by actuating the keys either singly or in combination with a given key.

I attain these objects by means of a mechanism which may be, briefly described as follows:-A rocking bar is provided pivoted at one end on a pivot which is movable a predetermined distance in a right line so that the bar may rock from at least two posit-ions one at each end of the line of travel of the pivot. The other end of the rocking bar is also adapted to rock on a pivot movable parallel to through the same distance. lit/leans for actuating, recording, indicating or the like mechanism is'connected to said rocking bar inter ediate its pivots, the point of connection einglocated four-ninths of the distance between the pivots from one of them which latter is movable by the key representing the number 5. The keys represent ing the numbers 1 to 4 are adapted to actuate the other pivot and to move it respectively through one-, two-, three-, or fourfourths of the-whole distance. As any key may be actuated alone, and as the 5 key may be actuated in combination with any one of the others, the actuating means of therecorder or indicator may be moved from one-ninth to nine-ninths of the whole the first and distance through which it is arranged to be moved. The principle of operation of the mechanism thus briefly described will be hereinafter more fully set forth and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. i is a plan view'of the rocking bar shown in conjunction with a diagram illustrating the mode of operation of the device. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the connecting rods for the 1 to 3 keys inits rearmost position. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view showing the spring mechanism for returning the rack bar to its normal position.

In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the difierent figures.

A is a rocking bar which forms the basis of the device. This bar is adapted to rock from each end, preferably through the means I will now describe.

At each side of the apparatus is suitably carried a guide rod B on which a slide C is adapted to reciprocate. Each slide is provided with an upwardly projecting pivot and also with a slotted lug E by means of which the slide may be moved. One end of the rocking bar is shown as pivoted on the pin ll) carried by the slide at the thumb side oft-he machine. The other pivot pin D engages in the slot a formed in the other end of the rocking bar A. Between the guide rods B a rack bar F is suitably guided so that it may reciprocate in a direction parallel to the guide rods B. This rack bar provides means for actuating a suitable register. It show the bar as slidable in the guides b. The rack bar has a connection with the rocking bar which will admit of a transverse sliding movement of the rocking bar relative to the rack bar. For this purpose I show a pivot c, projecting from the rack bar and engaging in a slot (Z formed in the rocking bar. It will be understood of course that any arrangement of slots or their equivalents which will permit of the rocking bar assuming any necessary angular position relative to the slides C and the bar F will answer the purpose of my invention.

With a machine constructed to operate on the decimal system and using five keys, the pin 0 is located at a point distant from the thumb-side pivot D four-ninths of the total distance between the two pivots D, D at the opposite ends of the rocking bar. The machine shown is a right hand machine, the thumb of the operators hand being adjacent the left side of the machine as he faces it. Five keys are provided for actuating the rocking bar. These are designated by the numerals 1 to 5. The thumb or 5 key is adapted to move back the pivot D at the left hand side of the -machine a distance which may be designated by the letter m (see Fig. 4 The little finger or 4 key is adapted to draw back the right hand pivot D the same distance m, while the 1, 2, and 3 keys are adapted to draw back the same pivot as the 4 key a corresponding number of fourths of the distance m. The result of this construction is that the rack barmay be moved any number of units of distance from 1 to 9, depending on the key or combination of keys which has been operated. The rack bar is moved back five units by actuating the 5 key operating on the left hand pivot D, and the rack bar is moved back from 6 to 9 units by operating the 5 key in conjunction with either the 1, 2, 3 or 4 keys respectively, the result being indicated in Fig. 4 on the line mz projected from the pivot 0 through the medium of which the rocking bar "actuates the rack bar. This diagram illustrates graphically how the proportionate movements of the rack bar are obtained by moving the rocking bar from either one or both ends in the manner described, and the underlying geometrical principle will be readily understood by any one conversant with the lz'Zeme'n-zs of Euclid.

Before describing the constructions through the medium of which the various keys actuate the pivots D, D I will describe themeans by which the movements of the rack bar are integrated, when my device is used to operate adding mechanism.

G represents a counter or register which may be of any well-known construction,

though I have devised a counter specially adapted for this machine which will be made the subject matter of a separate application. F or the present sufiiceit to say that the counter is provided with a plurality of number wheels H, which, as in ordinary counters, will be provided with means for carrying from one numeral wheel to the next after a number wheel has moved to indicate the number 9. The important feature, as far as the present invention is concerned is that each number wheel is adapted to mesh with the rack bar F and that the counter as a whole is slidable to bring any desired gear train in mesh with the rack bar. I show each gear train as comprising a pinion I meshing with the gear wheel J adapted to mesh with the rack bar F. The registering mechanism is carried by provided with gearing the carriage K adapted to slide on the cross bars L and M carried by the frame of the apparatus. The counter G is carried by the spindle N supported in the ends of the carrlage K while the gear wheels J are carried by and are loose onthe spindle 0 also supported in the ends. of the carriage. If desired, suitable means may be provided to lock the carriage with any desired number wheel geared to the rack bar F.

The keys are connected with the slide 0 preferablv in the following manner The thumb or 5 key, it will be seen, is shaped as a bell crank lever, journaled on the bar 6, and provided at its lower end with a pin engaging in the slotted lug E. The little finger or 4 key is loose on a suitably journaled rock shaft 9 to, which is secured the rock arm 72, provided with the pin 2' engaging the slotted lug E of the right hand slide C. The 4 key is shaped as a bentlever and vis provided at the bend with a roller 7' adapted to engage in front of the rock arm h. By depressing the 4 key the rock arm It will be operated; at the same time the rock 'arm is free to move independent of the 4 key for a' urpose hereinafter described. The 1 and 3 toys are similarly shaped to the 4 key and are loose on the suitably-supported shaft is. The 2 key is of the same general shape as the 1 and 3 keys, and is also loose on the shaft is, but extends farther from the shaft to suit the greater length of the middle finger.

To the bend of each key is pivoted one end of a connecting rod P preferably formed as follows One end is pivoted to the key, the other slides in a slot t in the angle cross bar 0. Intermediate their ends the connecting rods rest on the cross bar ;0 extending from the rock arm it to a rock arm 9 also secured to the rock bar 9. In each connecting rod P is formed a notch 11, these notches being so located as to allow for lost motion in such a manner that a given notch will not engage the bar P until the key operating it has been depressed so far that the remainder of itsmovement will only rock the arm 76 through a portion of its arc of movement depending in its extent on the key operated, being i in the case of the 1 key, 2 in the case of the 2, key and in the case of the three key.

To adjustably limit the throw of the 1, 2 and 3 keys and to assist in forming a momentum check, I provide the screws 1) screwed through the cross bar 0 so that they contact with the sloping upper faces of the lugs w formed on the connecting rods P when the latter have reached their desired limit of travel. As each connecting rod rests on the cross bar 39, its lug w cannot be forced under the screw 11 which therefore limits the rearward movement of the connecting rod, and as the face of the lug fso slopes toward the set screw, a vertical adtjustment of thedatter regulates exactly the and as the notch is so formed that a slight sloping shoulder w is provided engaging the rear side ofthe rod P, it is evident that the locking of a connecting rodP locks also the cross bar 77, so that the rocking parts with which the latter is connected stop dead where moved, and the rack bar F is absolutely prevented from moving under theinfluence of momentum past'the position to which it is desired to'move it, by the operation of the 1, 2, or 3 keys. From the constructions described, it is also evident that movement of any one of the keys 1 to 4 may take place without any movement of theothers taking place,

It will be noted that, as the keys fulcrum on centers between the key buttons and the position ordinarily assumed by the knuckles of'the hand, a clutching movement of the fingers serves to actuate the keys, making it quite unnecessary to lift the hand,

able stationary'part tend to retain the keys in their normal position as shown, in contact with the stops n. ported on transverse shafts of some length, the keys may readily he placed in any desired position to suit' the hand of the person using the machine.

With a horizontally moving rockingv bar it is necessary to provide spring meansfor returning the rack bar to its normal positi'on after it has been moved by the operation ofa key, and it is also necessary that the tension should be as nearly even as possible, whether the rack bar he moved one unit of distance or nine, so that the touch of the keys may be asv even as possible. it, therefore, provide a compound spring tension device, preferably arranged as follows :-'l.he rack loar F is made hollow toward its rear end, and in the socket so formed. is set a compression coil spring a, the outer end of which engages the cross head Q. This cross head is guided by a stem bfitting within the coil spring a and the rack her; To the ends of the cross head are connected thetension coil springs 0', the other ends of which are connected to any suitable stationary part of the apparatus. By this arrangement ii secure the comparatively 'equable tension of very long springs in half the space which would otherwise be required.

From the above description it is thought that the operation of the'device will he sufii eient-ly understood. A column of figures is added by depressing sem'a'm necessary keys to form the consecutive figures and these separate numbers are integrated icy the 'lhe springs s engaging the keys and some suit-'- As the keys are all supcounter. As soon as the first column has been added, the rack which in the first place is .in engagement with the units number wheel, is caused to operate on the tens number wheel by sliding the counter to bring the gearing of the tens number wheel into mesh with the rack. then added in the same manner as the first,

and the shifting of the counter continued for each new column added. After the last column has been added the counter shows the total.

It will be understood of course that the proportions and ratios employed in locating the pivots of the rocking bar and rack bar relative to one another andin arranging for the various movements have been described as used with a decimal system and that the same principles of operation vmay be employed in counting and the like according to 1 other systems, such for example as the duodecimal, with only such alterations as would be evident .to any one skilled in the art in view of this specification.

What 1 claim as my invention is 1. In a device of the class described the combination of a rocking baradapted to rock from either end; a key adapted to rock said bar on one end, keys adapted to rock said bar on the other end; and movement transmitting means connected with said bar intermediate its ends.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a rocking bar adapted to rock from either end; keys adapted to rock said bar; and movement transmitting means connected withv said bar intermediate its ends at a point unequally distant from the centers on which the bar rocks.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a rocking bar adapted to rock from either end; means for moving either end; register-actuating means connected with said bar between its ends at a point distant from one of the centers on which the bar rocks iour-ninths of the distance between the centers; and a register operable by said means.

In a device of the class described, the

combination of a rocking bar adapted to- 1 point distant from one of the centers on u which the bar rocks four-ninths of the distance between the centers.

The second column is 5. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a rocking bar adapted to rock from either end through the same angular distance; means for rocking the bar from one end through the fuli distance; means for rocking the other end through either the full distance or through fourths of the whole distance; and movement transdistance; a 4 key adapted to move the other pivot thesame distance; keys representing the numerals 1, 2, and 3 adapted to move the s'ame pivot a corresponding number of fourths of the same distance; and movement transmittin means connected to said'bar between the plvots at a point fourninths of the distance between the .pivots from the pivot movable by the 5 ke 7. In a device of the class descri ed, the combination of a rocking bar slotted near one end; a pivot slidably supported and on whichlsaid bar is pivoted at its other end; a second pivot also'slidably supported to move-in'a path parallel to the first pivot and engaging in the aforesaid slot in the bar; a 5 key adapted to move the first pivot a predetermined distance; a 4 key adapted to move the other pivot the'same distance; keys representing the numerals 1, 2 and 3 adapted to move the same pivot a corresponding number .of fourths of the same distance; and a sliding bar'supported between the pivots to move parallel thereto and connected to the rocking bar at a point four-ninths of the distance between the pivots from the pivot movable by the 5 key.

8. In adevice of the class described, the

combination of a rocking bar adapted to rock from either end; a 5 key adapted to rock one end of the bar a predetermined distance; a 4 key adapted to rock the other end of the bar the same distance; keys re resenting the numerals 1, 2 and 3; connections whereby said keys actuate the same end of the bar as the 4 key; and a suitably adjusted lost motion device in each connection whereby each of said keys will move the bar a corresponding number of fourths of the same distance.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rocking bar adapted to rock from either end; a 5 key adapted to rock one end of the bar a predetermined distance; a 4 key adapted to rock the other end of the bar the same distance; a connection through the medium of which the said key actuates the bar, said connection being adapted to permit the bar to move independently of the key; keys representing the numerals 1, 2 and 3; connections whereby said ke s actuate the same end of the bar as the 4 ey; and a suitably adjusted lost motion device in each connection whereby each of said keys will move the bar a correspondlng number of fourths of the same distance.

10. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a rocking bar adapted to rock from either end; keys adapted to rock said bar; a register actuating means connected with said bar intermediate its ends;

a register operable by said means provided with a plurality of number wheels; and means for bringing any desired number wheel into operative engagement with; the actuating means.

11. In a device of the class described, the

between the button and the position occupied by the knuckles of the operator, and a connection for operating a movable part located' below said button.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sliding bar; means for sliding said bar in one direct-ion; and yielding means tending to move it in the opposite direction comprising a compression spring one end of which engages the bar, a cross head engaged by the other end ofthe com pression spring,'and a tension spring engaging the cross head and a stationary part acting to compress the compression spring.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of a key; a rock bar; a connecting rod pivotallv connected with the key and resting on the rock bar, a notchbeing formed therein in which the rock bar may engage; a rearwardly inclined face formed FREDERICK L. H. SIMS.

Sigr-ed in presence of- J. Enw. MAYBEE, E. P. HALL. 

